Disclaimer: Star Trek belongs to Paramount. Grrrr…

Author's note: This is an M rated story. I needed to express my feelings for what my country goes through and writing is a healthy way to let off steam. This is the first and hopefully last time I write something dark and evil.

Both chapters have indecent words and descriptions of violence. Please mind the M rating and DON'T READ it if you are less than 16.

Letters in Italics represent people's inner thoughts. English is not my native language, so a few errors are inevitable.

.

.

A Tale Οf Two Mirrors

Chapter 1: Mirror, mirror on the wall…

.

.

It was like taking candy from a baby. It certainly felt like it.

The Vulcan passenger ship Surak had just left Vulcan space and entered the neutral zone. They were close to their side but, even in zero-gravity space, luck was tough.

Since the Terran intelligence knew Vulcans and Romulans were mortal enemies, they were monitoring closely that area, where something strange occurred during the last months.

Enemy Vulcan ships followed an unusual route. They headed toward Romulan space instead of the opposite direction. Additionally, several intelligence reports from the neutral zone revealed that traffic in that area had increased.

And so did the unspecified attacks on ships passing by.

The Terran ship Glory was heavily armed, cloaked and appeared suddenly. Five torpedoes fired with surgical precision were enough to bring down Surak's shields.

Not that the Vulcans had a reputation for being an easy target. They wouldn't sit and wait for the Terrans to beam aboard. And certainly they wouldn't surrender without a fight.

This was why the torpedoes were immediately followed by an electronic signal, transmitted from the Terran ship, before the enemy had any chance to restore their shields. Within seconds, the bug infected Surak's main electronic systems, jammed its entire telecommunications, and transmitted from the ship's megaphones a high frequency sound wave.

Harmless to Humans, the ultra-high frequency blast from the previously unknown unorthodox weapon could bring the strongest Vulcan to his knees.

And it did.

When Glory's captain, Anthony Fierm, ordered a scan of the enemy ship, it revealed forty life forms. Strangely enough, one was still conscious.

It didn't matter. Soon he would also fall, like everybody else.

Fierm ordered his soldiers to prepare to be beamed aboard. Fifteen strong men – who were not only handsomely paid, but had been promised a fair share from the loot – were ready and waiting in the transporter room. Their phasers were not set on stun.

The young Terran captain smiled; a mix of arrogance and satisfaction was written all over his face.

Glory's new weapons made this too easy. Like taking candy from a baby.

And just as sweet.

He spun his chair around and rose. It was time to show his lover how much he appreciated her flexibility last night.

"Ensign Kentop, you're in command until I'm back."

Ignoring the envious looks from the rest of the bridge crew, most of whom were her superiors, the blond bombshell rose slowly from her seat and approached him.

"Of course, captain," she smiled nonchalantly, taking his place on the captain's chair.

Grinning, Fierm entered the turbolift and headed to the transporter room. The enemy ship was private and most likely transported valuable cargo.

Trusting nobody but himself, this time the captain had decided to join the disembarking party. Glory could run with Miranda on the command chair until his return.

His profitable return.

.

.

"Sir, he's inside this room," the lieutenant informed him, passing a portable scanner in front of a door. There was only one Vulcan still standing on Surak and he was behind this door.

Following from a safe distance, Fierm wiped his sweaty forehead with his sleeve – the Vulcan ship from inside was hot as hell!

"Is the door locked?" he asked observing the red light on the scanner's screen which indicated a single presence.

"No, sir."

"Then by all means," Fierm smiled wickedly. "Let us pay our respects."

The door slid open and the lieutenant aimed his phaser inside the room. "Freeze! Don't move!"

"Don't fire!" a female voice shouted in Standard English. "I'm unarmed!"

"What the-"

Hearing the unexpected plea Fierm's eyes widened. He carefully peeked inside.

The ornate room appeared to be some sort of living-room. There was a big couch against the left wall. Large curved swords with shining blades decorated the room. Four tall vases containing yellow wheat-like plants were in each corner. The luxurious bright orange carpet added a feeling of excessive wealth.

In the middle of the room was the most exquisitely carved wooden table Fierm had ever seen in his entire life.

Rectangle, dark brown and enormous, the table stretched from one side of the room to the other. It was surrounded by eight chairs sculpted in the same pattern. This kind of art was unbelievably rare on Earth; only members of the Emperor's family were known to possess such artifacts.

The fact that such an uncommon object was found on an enemy ship only added to its value. Observing it with greedy eyes, Fierm automatically began calculating how much it would get in the black market. It could even surpass the rare Vulcan swords.

Then his attention turned to the woman who tried to hide without success behind the table, and to her familiar voice. "Mandy?"

Although they expected a Vulcan, it was a Terran woman, wearing an embroidered Vulcan robe that rose and faced them timidly. "Tony? Is that… you?"

To say Fierm was surprised would be an understatement. "Mandy? You're alive!"

"My God! Tony!" The woman stood completely frozen; her large blue eyes betrayed her confusion and wonder. "You… came back for me? Oh, Tony!" she exclaimed and burst into tears.

Fierm lowered his weapon and nodded his men to lower theirs. "And they say miracles don't happen! Yet you survived! Well, well, well… Who would know?"

"What happened?" she asked, trembling with fear. "Suddenly everybody touched their heads, screamed and collapsed on the floor! Wha- what happened?"

"Like it?" Fierm smiled proudly. "My newest prize. Last month I expanded my business acquaintances. The Klingons had a few nasty tricks up their sleeves, like that cloaking device. They were also so dumb they couldn't resist the image of a poor helpless Terran ship that drifted without power into the neutral zone. Ha! Their throats were practically asking to be slain!"

The woman continued watching him in disbelief. "It that… really you, Tony?"

"Who else? The one and only," Fierm smirked while noticing another door next to them. "What's behind the door?"

"The- the bedroom."

"Anybody in there?"

She shook her head.

"Check it," he ordered his lieutenant. The room was an equally luxurious bedroom with two semi-double beds and an enormous closet.

Another door led to a bathroom which might as well belong to the emperor. Surveying it, the lieutenant whistled in awe. It was as big as his quarters.

He returned and signalled his captain. "It's clean."

Having the area secured, Fierm turned his attention to Mandy. Observing her Vulcan outfit, his expression changed to disgust. "What in the emperor's name are you wearing?"

For a second she appeared dizzy and out of words. "I… I… I haven't spoken with any other Human for five years. I gotta sit down," she mumbled, collapsing on a chair.

"Sir?" The lieutenant who observed the scene stood confused and waited for further instructions.

Fierm looked over his shoulder. "It's okay. Continue searching the ship; throw all sleeping beauties into their brig while they're still out. Check the cargo and every corner. Lock them up real good! Then come back here to report."

The lieutenant nodded and withdrew leaving them alone. Fierm pressed a button; the door closed behind him with a small hissing sound. Without wasting any time, he approached the dazzled woman with a million questions in his mind.

"What happened to you? How on Terra you managed to survive? Vulcans don't take prisoners!"

"I know!" Mandy exclaimed and burst into tears. "Oh, Tony! If you only knew what I've been through!"

He let out a deep breath and scratched his head. This… complicated things.

First of all, Miranda wouldn't like the fact that his ex was still alive five years after reported as being killed in an accident – or left behind was more like it.

It was five years ago when he had to make a quick decision; his first, as an Imperial captain.

Either they would have to wait for five crew members, one of them his woman, to return to the ship, or they would risk getting caught stealing that Romulan ship's cargo near the neutral zone – a risky, illegal and above all rewarding business.

Back then, he had just become captain, one of the youngest captains in the Imperial Fleet. The best part however was that he didn't have to kill anyone. Not that he would hesitate - only he found a less messy way, by using Mandy's thighs.

A couple of weeks earlier, during an inspection, an elder Admiral had visited their ship. The tour covered all sectors and decks, including the linguistics department – Mandy's section. Seeing the ship's junior linguistics advisor, the lecher practically started drooling.

The problem was that Mandy, unlike her lover, wasn't ambitious. Her knife was both quick and sharp. After tasting it, the Admiral proposed to Fierm an exchange. A one-night stand with a drugged Mandy for an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would take a fool or a mad man to refuse.

Fierm was neither.

Once the Admiral got what he wanted, he kept his promise. After pulling a few strings, Fierm received an unusually generous promotion.

Standing for the first time on the ship's bridge, the young captain started planning his future. His salary was not enough; he deserved some extra bonuses. Glory was assigned to patrol near the neutral zone; as long as he could afford to grease the palms of the right officers, who would care if a few passing enemy ships went missing?

Now, five years later, Fierm looked down at the sobbing woman. She was still the same old Mandy, lithe and slender with a body that could tempt a saint. He wondered why she hid that kick-ass body under such a heavy robe. Then he began observing the blue fabric. Like everything in the room, it looked rich enough and there were golden vertical letters in the front that reached all the way down to the hem. Although the long robe was exactly the opposite from the short skirts she used to wear when they were together, Fierm couldn't deny that the color was the perfect match for her eyes.

As for her blonde hair, it was pulled up in an odd, senile bun which reminded him of an elderly aunt he hated.

Miranda. Shit, he thought and scratched his head again. Miranda Kentop, his lover for the last five years, was a natural brunette who had dyed her hair blonde. It was a requirement for the captain's bed - he always had a thing for blondes.

With a sigh he sat down next to her.

"Looks like you have a tale to tell," he smiled as Mandy wiped tears away.

"Go on," he encouraged her. "We have some time. What happened?" he asked while the wheels in his head were turning. He couldn't take her back on the ship; Miranda would have her stabbed within an hour and it would take only a call for her uncle, Admiral Kormack to degrade him.

Still sobbing, Mandy gazed up at him. Her voice was filled with anguish and pain. "Why did you leave? Why did you leave us behind? We could still make it back to the ship-"

"The cargo was the first sector the Vulcans hit! Since you were all beamed there, we presumed you were killed. Now, I don't know what you may think of me, but I had a ship and a crew to think." And my ass to cover as well, he thought.

If this ever got out he knew he would be executed. The only thing he could do was order his ship around and get the hell away from there as fast as they could.

Minus five crew members. Minus Mandy.

Well, she wasn't the best lover he ever had, but she was exactly what a man of importance needed hanging on his arm.

Mandy's flawless face opened doors. She was pretty, very pretty and men were literally drooling at the sight of that face and ass. He wondered if her ass was just as firm as he remembered. Damn, he had missed that fine piece. Fierm observed the door which led to the bedroom. Perhaps one last time… he thought licking his lips, before turning his attention back to his former lover.

"All five of you were reported as been killed in a shuttle accident," he explained, trying to appear sympathetic. "And that was the end of it. I'm sorry, Mandy. You must have been through a lot."

She shook her head. "The Vulcans hit the cargo area, but we had left that sector. The Romulans didn't take any chances and the cargo was heavily guarded. Once the Romulan guards saw us they began shooting.

"We started to withdraw and were about to call you, to either beam us back or sent reinforcements, when… the Vulcans came," Mandy sighed. "Basically we were caught in the middle. And Tony, the rumors are true. Vulcans don't take prisoners," she whispered, white as a sheet.

Now that was becoming interesting. He shifted and sat more comfortably. "What happened?"

"Since the Romulan shields were down," Mandy began, "the Vulcans beamed aboard. You know how Terra knows almost nothing about either of them? How they manage to catch all our spies? Well, it's because they are touch telepaths! They can read a person's thoughts by touching them!"

"No shit!" Fierm yelled, nearly falling from his seat. This was becoming very, very interesting… In fact, this kind of information could really boost his career. He would take care of Mandy's ass later. "What else did you find out?"

She raised her shoulders. "Only that Vulcans and Romulans originate from the same species, they share a common ancestor. But after a civil war that almost destroyed their home planet a small radical group that called themselves 'Romulans' fled their world to start a new colony as far away from Vulcan as possible."

He snorted. "Who could blame them?"

"Yes, you're right. That war took place two thousand years ago. Since that time Vulcan is ruled with an iron fist by the family that led their army to victory, a clan known as S'chn T'gai. There is a Council that represents every clan on the planet but the Council head always comes from the S'chn T'gai clan. It's part of their tradition, but the family's also very influential.

"The ship that attacked us on that day was targeting the Romulans. Its captain, General Sarek, is a prominent member of the S'chn T'gai clan. He… He…" Her voice broke into a sob.

"Hey, hey," Tony reached out and took her trembling hands in his. "It's okay, you're safe now." Damn, who could resist to those large blue eyes?

She shook her head. "Apparently none of them had ever seen a blonde before. Most Vulcans and Romulans have black eyes and hair, only a small minority has brown. He saw me as something exotic.

"They gathered all of us on the storage area, where they shoot the Romulan crew except from the captain. Oh Tony, it was dreadful!" she cried.

"Instead of executing him, like the others, Sarek placed his hands on the Romulan captain's temples and the man screamed! I've never see such a strong man screaming from pain. And Tony, he was strong. During the battle he had killed a Vulcan with his bare hands. But after Sarek removed his hands, he fell on the floor watching the void with empty eyes. When we left him, he was still lying on the floor…

"The five of us were terrified and thought we were going to die. Oh, I wish I had died back then!"

"Shit."

"They didn't care about the Romulan cargo. Instead they initiated the auto-destruct system and we beamed back to their ship. There he gave Sypran, Lloyd, Cow and Gregovitch to his men… to do with them anything they wanted! I never saw any of them again… Then he took me to his room," Mandy sobbed.

"Bastard!"

"He wanted to see if I was a natural blonde. So he tore my clothes off to see my pubic hair. He tied me to the bed and… and…" she covered her face with her hands and burst into tears.

"Fucking bastard!" Fierm jumped to his feet so quickly, he almost knocked his chair backward. No fucking alien scum had the right to lay his filthy hands on a Terran woman. "If I ever get my hands on him!"

Then he sat down and rubbed his jaw. "Wasn't he weird? I mean his balls…"

She shook her head; her eyes were red and swollen. "No, no. Their DNA is slightly different. They have similar anatomy and almost identical physiology with Humans.

"Our journey back to Vulcan lasted approximately ten days," Mandy continued with a moan. "I spent all that time tied to his bed. He untied me only to go to the bathroom.

"That was when I learned my first Vulcan word, 'kafeh'. It means slave. Property," she spat in disgust. "If I ever hear that word again, I'll throw up."

"Yea, well you won't," he said, thinking of her naked, gagged and tied on the bed. She had never agreed to any bondage games when they were together – as a couple their sexual activity was limited to the basics. Now having this conversation made him hard. Perhaps he could give her a merciful fuck as compensation. But damn, how was he gonna bring her back to his ship?

"Anyway, once we arrived on Vulcan, he allowed me to bath, gave me a clean robe and took me to the palace of his matriarch."

Hearing that last word, Fierm's eyes widened in surprise and Mandy nodded.

"I know, I know… It sounds unbelievable, but Vulcan is a matriarchic society. Men and women are equal, yet the head of each family is always a woman. Even him, the mighty Sarek, had to take the approval from the head of his clan, sort of a… a head of state, to keep me."

"She said yes?"

Mandy closed her eyes and nodded again. "Later I found out why," she said, unable to hide her weariness.

"Why?" Fierm asked curious.

She sighed. "Sarek was married. I found that it was a political match; he and his wife weren't particularly close. He was only interested in military affairs and traveled frequently off planet.

"But, according to his staff, he was a faithful husband. Although his household was wealthy, and he could easily afford it, he never had any personal…" her lips twisted, "servants. I was his first," Mandy admitted, lowering her head in shame.

"During the last years, Sarek's wife T'Rea, who was from a different clan, had disagreed with his clan mother over some political issues. Looks like T'Rea had a different agenda and she was very ambitious.

"T'Pau, Sarek's clan mother, suspected that T'Rea was after her seat as head of the Vulcan Council. When I showed up, T'Pau saw me as an opportunity to spread conflict among them. She was so right...

"When we arrived at his house – fortress was more like it – Sarek took me to a small room at the lower floors. The room was stripped from any unnecessary furniture. There was only a bed, a table with two chairs and a small bathroom. No windows either; it had only one exit, through the door.

"Once the servants informed T'Rea about me, she became furious. She came outside my room. Terrified, I overheard them arguing at the corridor. I didn't understand a word they said but later I found out she demanded I was executed immediately.

"Sarek refused and told her he was entitled to a kafeh. That it was his right to keep me and she had no say in the matter.

"Angry, she left the house taking their son with her, a twenty-year-old devil named Sybok. She must have returned after a month or so, but I was locked up and almost lost track of time."

Mandy gave him a sad smile. "Do you know how I calculated the days? From Sarek. He came to my room every night… The door was always locked and only he knew the code. Everyday I dreaded that if anything happened to him I would be left there, buried alive to die of thirst or hunger. Oh Tony, if you only knew what I've been through!

"All day I was locked up – I almost lost my mind. One day I even stopped eating. Vulcan food is so blunt and tasteless… They gave me only a disgusting soup which I threw in the toilet. And I think I became depressed. So every day I ate less and less.

"One night Sarek came and found me unconscious on the floor. I hadn't eaten anything for three days. Immediately, he sent for a doctor. He wanted so badly to keep me alive… I wish he hadn't," Mandy sighed.

"The doctor who came injected me with a stimulant. I couldn't understand a single word but I realized that he scolded Sarek and advised him to change my diet and put me in a room so I could see the sun. I was caged like an animal…

"The same night Sarek transferred me to a much larger room. It was high up in a tower and had a mountain view. I thought of jumping and killing myself but there were bars at the windows. And he continued coming every night…" Mandy groaned and bit her trembling lips to stop herself from bursting again into tears. She took another deep breath and continued her painful narrate.

"After a few days, from my window I saw T'Rea strolling around the gardens, talking to Sarek. She had returned… They must have reconciled because after that he used to come to my room once or twice the week. Not that it bothered me. But my nerves were shattered by then. I hadn't spoken with anybody for over a month. I ended up talking to myself.

That was when Sarek sent for me a tutor to teach me their language. Of course it was a woman; all servants who came to bring me food or clean the room while he was around, were women."

She sighed, brought her hand on her throat and swallowed hard. "I need some water."

Fierm looked around. There was a device similar to a replicator attached to the wall behind them.

Mandy stood and approached the device. "Masu," she ordered with a slight accent and a glass of crystal-clear water appeared.

"Our technologies are similar," observed Fierm and Mandy nodded.

She drunk half the water and returned to her chair.

"How well do you speak the language?"

"Sarek wanted me to speak it like a native. As a touch-telepath he could be very persuasive..." Mandy's hands began trembling and she put the glass aside. "I learned to speak it like a native," she whispered and clenched her fists to stop them from trembling.

"What else did you learn about their society? What kinds of weapons they have? Can they threaten the Empire?"

"Perhaps, in the future. At the moment they don't care about Terra. All they're interested is conquer Romulus."

"Hmmm… Well good for us, but why?"

"They have secrets, shameful secrets that if ever get out they could destroy Vulcan. Since they share DNA with the Romulans, they want to destroy them first before begin a war against us."

"Clever," he agreed. "Never open two fronts at the same time."

"Exactly."

Greedily, Fierm licked his lips and bent forward. "So… what secrets do they hide?"

"I found about it one year later. It nearly killed me."

"What?" he asked, gritting his teeth. He was so close; he could even smell the power…

"I'll tell you how it happened. T'Rea… ordered me killed. Back then I didn't know why she feared me - I was merely a slave. Now I know that she believed that in the future I might influence Sarek and she could lose her grip on him… and the Council seat.

"You must understand that Vulcan women are very powerful and influential. Practically they hold their men by the balls. It is the women who have the real power, and that's why T'Rea hated me.

"Sarek had never shown interest in anybody else before. Now he seemed infatuated with me, and T'Rea thought that Sarek would no longer need her services in the future…

"Anyway, she had a faithful servant, one she had brought from her household before she got married – someone who would kill for her. It was such a classic female plan, poison," Mandy's lips stretched in a trembling smile. She raised an ironic eyebrow.

"Vulcan poison... Capable of killing a Vulcan instantly. But I am Human and my body metabolized it. It didn't kill me but I was paralyzed for two days before they could discover what it was and make an antidote. And the servant who brought my food… was executed," she recalled and shivered.

"I can't say I was sorry, but… that thing Sarek did to the Romulan captain, he did it again… on that servant… and then ordered her execution. I honestly don't understand why he was so obsessed with me," she said, gazing distracted the opposite wall, as one by one all painful memories surfaced.

Fierm shifted nervously in his chair. He grew restless with her endless stupidity.

Of course and he understood why that alien dick was infatuated with Mandy's angelic image. Men of every age and rank drooled over her. Sparkling blue eyes, blonde hair, firm ass and knockers not big, but large enough to fit in his palm. And the best of all, she was natural – no plastic surgeries whatsoever. Fierm knew every bit of her body; he'd been there, done her for six years. And the last year, in order to sit in the captain's chair, he even shared her.

Seeing her now, he thought that, despite her clothes, Mandy never looked prettier or healthier. Her skin was perfect. Her hair had grown long and luxurious.

He quickly put those thoughts aside. At this moment Glory's captain was hungry for something else – knowledge and the power that went with it.

"And the secret?" he asked, trying not to sound impatient. "What is it?"

Mandy shook her head. "Sarek read the servant's mind before her execution and found out about T'Rea's plot. Terrified to face his anger, T'Rea fled their home and returned to her parents seeking her clan's protection.

"Only by doing that, she legally abandoned him and lost her seat at the Vulcan Council, which belonged to Sarek's clan. But that bitch hadn't said yet her final word. She left that bastard Sybok behind to complete her plans.

"One night he… he managed to bypass the door's circuit," Mandy recalled and took a shaky breath. "T'Rea had ordered him to maim and then kill me… She had inspired such hate for me… She had convinced her son that if Sarek divorced her he would also disown him. Luckily for me, Sybok was his father's son."

"What d'you mean?"

"He had never seen me before," Mandy explained. "He thought… before killing me… he could taste his father's kafeh." She turned her head, wringing her hands together, and gave a pained look at the sharp swords that hung from the opposite wall.

"Sarek had sent a message he would spend the night at the city due to a late Council meeting and return next day. Luckily for me, not only he finished sooner but, when he returned, he came immediately to my room."

Her lower lip began trembling again and she drew a deep breath. "I was alone with Sybok for ten minutes before his father walked in," her voice cracked. She bit her lips and squeezed her hands.

Suddenly, Mandy's expression changed, from pain to total indifference. Then she did something Fierm didn't expect; she held out her right hand, and observed each finger.

"The Vulcan term for doctor is hakausu," she said in an even voice, "but it doesn't mean doctor. Literally it means one who heals..."

Tilting her head, she looked abstracted. "Do you know Tony that Vulcans have very good doctors?" she asked in an eerie calm voice that for the first time scared the shit out of him.

Numb, he shook his head.

"Well, they do. They also have detailed records on Human anatomy. Remember our spies?" Mandy asked and Fierm, realizing what her words meant, shivered.

Over the centuries Terran intelligence had sent several of its members to spy on Vulcan. All had undergone special surgery to look like natives. But the telepathy shit was unknown – no wonder they had been caught… and studied thoroughly.

"The Healers sewed back my palm… These neurobiologists and plastic surgeons can really perform miracles," Mandy chuckled nervously. Her entire body began trembling as the narration made her relive that night's painful events.

"They put me in a special antigravity chamber for two days. It… Err… It speeds up the healing process – it's a very… functional booth. Like our agony booth, only its exact opposite," she smiled bitterly.

"The healers told Sarek that, apart from my hand, I had broken a scapula, a collarbone and… suffered a severe rectal injury which caused internal bleeding. They sent me home after subscribing 'abstinence' for two months...

"It took me one month to sit again. At first I thought that Sarek wouldn't want me after seeing…" Mandy wiped her tears and looked away.

"But he did… come again… He came to my room exactly after two months. He-" She paused again and looked at the sharp weapons decorating the wall.

"He-" She hesitated and took another deep breath.

"He grabbed that son of a bitch and threw him at the opposite wall. My hand was nailed on the bed, I was screaming and… don't remember much from what happened…"

She paused again for a few seconds. "Do you know Tony that Vulcan blood is green?"

Fierm blinked in surprise. "No," he admitted. "I didn't know that."

"He killed him, you know."

"Who? Who killed whom?"

"Sarek… When he saw Sybok… They had a fight; Sybok had a second knife and tried to stab him. You see, he was Sarek's only heir and everything would be his. But Sarek was stronger and he killed him - his own son! He threw him against the wall and broke his skull. Sybok's brain spread all over the room," Mandy whispered, white as a sheet.

She rubbed her fingers nervously against her sweating palms. "I never thanked them you know."

"Hmm? Who?"

"The Healers. The doctors who fixed my hand… Vulcans believe that thanking someone who's doing their job is illogical." She paused.

"Do you know Tony that Vulcans act according to what they think is logical? Their entire society… The way they behave is based on what is logical, instead of what they- they… feel."

Fierm moved on his seat uncomfortably. He didn't give a shit about Vulcan society and he didn't like the way she changed the subject from one topic to the other. "What happened, Mandy?"

She lowered her head. A single tear rolled down her cheek. "Nothing they couldn't fix."

Only that reply wasn't what Glory's captain expected. He leaned toward her. Mandy was really screwed and after living with touch-telepaths for five years and endure all this… Fierm wasn't certain her head was still on her shoulders. Chances were she was insane. Could she tell him what he needed to know?

Nervous, he ran his hand over his forehead. "And the secret?" he asked impatiently.

"After Sybok's death, T'Rea wanted revenge," Mandy whispered, looking down at the table's polished surface, lost in her memories.

"And she knew. That bitch knew what would happen. So she waited patiently… And then one day, after seven months, Sarek started to become ill."

"Ill? How?"

"At first I didn't notice anything. Sarek was always a demanding man who wanted to have everything his way. But, as the days went by, he became agitated and even became violent. During sex, he gripped me real hard; I ended up covered with bruises.

"I was worried because everybody seemed to know what was going on, except me. I asked but nobody said a word about it. I didn't know what to think. Then one morning he and a few others left the house in what seemed like an official parade.

"I watched them leaving from my window. It was almost midday when I heard noise from the other side of the door, which was always locked. Someone was breaking in! I held my breath but there was nowhere I could hide, I was terrified! I thought this time I would surely be murdered.

"The person who came in was the last person I expected to see, someone I hadn't seen since my first day on Vulcan - Sarek's clan leader, T'Pau.

"She looked at me from head to toes, and then ordered me to take off my robe and put on a dress she gave me. I had never seen a more luxurious, more ethereal fabric; it was unbelievably soft.

"I changed quickly and together we left the house in a hurry. T'Pau ahead of me was practically running. Later I found out we were racing against time. A hovercar took us and after a frantic ride we landed in a remote place outside the city.

"I knew we were in the desert, in some sort of sacred ground where ceremonies took place. There were people gathered all around. The men wore armor and carried large swords, and the women were carrying musical instruments which I recognized from my lessons. But none of them played music.

"We walked towards the party. The crowd opened and we walked among them. Everybody kept staring at me; I thought it was because they had never seen a human before. How wrong I was." Mandy sighed. "They expected us…

"We entered into a circular area, surrounded by massive stone pillars; in the middle of them was an altar.

"What I saw took my breath away. A man was lying dead on the ground and Sarek hovered above him! I've never seen a more abused corpse – the man was totally butchered. And Sarek was unlike anything I've ever seen before!

"Oh Tony! If you could see him! He was delirious; his clothes were stained and torn and he acted like a mad man! He walked to and fro and his entire body was trembling!

"In one arm he cradled a large sword like the ones hanging from the wall… In the other hand he held something that at first I believed it was a big piece of cloth. Then I realized… it was a corpse!

"Guess who it was? T'Rea, his wife; her head hung unnaturally to the side. And at that moment I knew! I knew he had broken her neck! He had killed her! But what was most scary was what she wore – a dress exactly like mine!

"I felt my legs give way. I knew I was probably next, but at that moment I didn't want to die! I didn't! Not like this! Not like her!

"Up to that moment Sarek looked as if he hadn't understood anybody's presence. He walked in circles around the torn body, mumbling something, lost in his world. But then he raised his head and sniffed into the air. Then he turned his head and looked at me! And his eyes… They were cloudy, without a single glimpse – he gave me a dark gaze… I nearly fainted!

"T'Pau saw his reaction and ordered me to go to him, but I shook my head and refused! I was so scared; a man was lying dead and it was Sarek who had literally torn him apart!

"I wanted to run, but my feet were nailed to the ground! I felt as if I couldn't move! Desperate I looked down and saw my shoes stuck in the wet sand. At first I didn't understand why, but then I realized… The sand was emerald! It was blood! Blood from the dead man! I was standing in a pool of blood… So much blood!

"Think Terrans are tough? Well, Vulcans are barbarians, Tony," she cried. "Sarek is the worst of them… And I was alone among them… and I couldn't run away…" She covered her face with her hands and burst again into loud tears.

Seeing her crying, Fierm shook his head. Mandy had surely lost it. But she would tell him what he wanted to know even if it was the last thing she ever did.

"What happened, honey?" he asked softly, trying to sound smooth.

"Sarek grabbed my arm. He started yelling at me and at others that I was his. That I belonged to him and nobody would ever take me away. He acted like crazy. Later I found that he was on the verge of death. His blood was burning because he was running a fever."

"Did he die?"

Numb, Mandy shook her head. "No, he didn't… He survived. I- I saved him."

"You? How?"

"He dragged me to a nearby cave. In the middle of the cave were several layers of blankets, forming a large bed. He threw me on that pile and tore my dress apart."

"Wait! I thought he didn't know what he was doing. What happened?"

"Nothing that had never happened before," she shrugged. "Only it was-" she sighed. "It was so violent!" Mandy exclaimed and covered her face with her hands. "The only thing I remember is being thirsty! Oh, I've been through pain, but I was so thirsty!

"I was told that we stayed in the cave for two days… It was dark, so I couldn't tell. The only thing I do know is that I didn't leave the bed, not for a single second. I lay there petrified – Sarek had already killed two people, I thought I was next! So I let him do to me everything he wanted… I couldn't resist! But Tony, I was so thirsty!

"At one point I lost consciousness. After that I don't know what happened. Only that I managed to survive. After two days he came to his senses; I don't remember that either. His family had left a hovercar outside the cave. I do remember how the bright sun hurt my eyes, as I lay in the back seat, on our way to the hospital. I don't even remember how many cracked bones I've had.

"Since that time I've been living in his house, like before. His own personal… servant," she spat out.

"And if he ever gets off planet, like now, he sends for me after a few days or weeks. Although where we are going, I don't know. I'm never told anything…"

Mandy stopped her narration, folded her hands and looked down. She appeared completely exhausted.

But Fierm, impatient as he was, decided not to take this shit any longer. Unable to hide his anger anymore, he sprang from his chair.

"And the secret? What is it?" he growled.

Her eyes flew open. "This is the secret! Vulcan's most hidden, dark secret."

"Sex in a cave? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"The fever, Tony! It's the fever! It wasn't Sarek's illness and it isn't a one time thing. Every Vulcan man after their thirties becomes ill once every three to seven years. They develop a high fever and it takes a woman to bring the fever down…" Mandy lowered her head, "by spreading her legs."

He finally realized what she meant. "Fuck!"

"Exactly. He used me… and his fever broke… He survived. And so did I."

He stood contemplating for a moment. His military mind searched frantically for the story's weakest link. "Say… What would happen if he didn't get it?"

Mandy shrugged indifferent. "Die, I guess. That is why the Vulcan head of state is always a woman. Men are fit only for the army and depend on their women for survival."

Her last words brought forth a sudden laugh. "Lysistrata would have a ball!" Mandy yelled and started laughing so intensely that Fierm observed her erratic behavior in disbelief.

Oh yea, she has totally lost it, he thought and shook his head. But what she had revealed was priceless.

Vulcan's weakness was outstanding. A species with an expiration date! An army that can fight only for a limited period of time! An enemy that can be wiped out in less than a decade! Fierm was thrilled.

This didn't simply present new opportunities. This information wouldn't only make him Admiral… He could even become…

"…emperor."

"Hmm? What's that honey?" Mandy asked and Fierm nearly jumped. He had forgotten himself and spoken out loud.

"I just thought that these are important news!" he lied quickly. "Today is a great day for the empire, Mandy. The Emperor will be thrilled with your news about our enemies. I'm sure he'll give you an enormous reward. You might even get a private audition!"

"Do you really think so?" Her expression changed again as she smiled broadly and Fierm wondered about her stupidity. Mandy was never particularly clever. The only thing she cared about was doing her little pathetic linguistics job. Too bad her real talent was lying flat on her back.

Or on her stomach.

Hell, he would have her both ways.

He whistled amused. "You know, I might even get an award for saving you!" he smiled. "I've missed you, Mandy. The ship was… so empty without you."

"Oh, Tony! I've missed you too!" she smiled back and, sitting in her chair, reached out for him.

The couple held hands and Fierm thought it was time for the bedroom. He would fuck her now and then give her to his men. A little extra fun for the boys, before beaming back to Glory. Back to Miranda.

Mandy Grayson had died five years ago in a shuttle accident. And that was the end of it.

Suddenly, a small buzzing sound was heard. Fierm walked and opened the door. The lieutenant that stood on the other side presented a brief report.

Thirty-eight unconscious Vulcan men were already into the ship's brig. There were forty people aboard, which meant that one Vulcan was missing, perhaps hiding. Four men were searching for him. As for the ship's cargo, it was a small treasure.

Artifacts from Vulcan, large amounts of food and water, alien medical supplies, caged bear-like animals, things Terrans had never seen before.

And everything translated to money. Piles of money.

The Vulcans had lots and lots of candy. And everything was deliciously easy.

Glory's captain was more than pleased. He even felt generous.

In a quiet voice Fierm ordered his lieutenant to begin studying the ship's engineering. Maybe they would discover something interesting, similar to the Klingon cloaking mechanism.

"Give me a few hours alone with her," Fierm whispered and winked at the sturdy man. "Then she's all yours. But be careful," he warned his subordinate. "If anyone asks, I'm busy interrogating the Vulcans."

The lieutenant glanced at Mandy who sat quietly at the table and smirked at the promise of some extra entertainment before beaming back to their ship.

"Yes, sir," he nodded, taking a step back.

The door closed again with a whisking sound. Behind him, Fierm heard Mandy rising from her seat.

It's party time, he thought with a smirk, activated the door's lock and turned around.

"Listen Mandy, I've been thinking- AARGH!" Α scream followed by a choking gasp left his lips. Ηis eyes widened in surprise.

Shocked, he looked down to the cold metal spear that pierced his chest.

But colder than the steel, were the eyes of the woman facing him.

Menacing and sinister she now stood before him, a person Fierm had never seen before.

"My name," she said in a threatening tone, "is Amanda!"

.

To be continued...

Vulcan words (from the Vulcan Language Dictionary - VLD)

Kafeh: slave

Masu: water

Hakausu: healer

A/N: Please let me know what you think.